Between February 10 and 18, 2024, travel demand among Russians showed a clear preference for resort getaways. During this period, nearly half of all international hotel bookings were for resort properties, with demand rising by more than a third year over year. This assessment comes from Ostrovok.ru, a leading online platform for hotel and apartment reservations, and has been reported by socialbites.ca in a related study.
Valentine’s Day travel patterns highlighted popular destinations across Asia and the Indian Ocean, including Thailand, the United Arab Emirates, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Indonesia, India, Malaysia, Egypt, and the Maldives. These spots emerged as top choices for couples seeking a romantic escape.
Experts note notable surges in booking activity for several destinations. In Vietnam, demand for accommodations surged fourfold, while Sri Lanka saw a doubling of bookings. The Philippines experienced a 68% increase, Thailand a 46% rise, and the UAE a 54% jump in reservations during the Valentine’s period.
Among travel choices for the Valentine’s window, CIS countries also stood out. Interest in Georgia doubled, Azerbaijan grew by 82%, Belarus by 43%, and Kazakhstan by 40%.
On average, the price of a one-night stay abroad on February 14 was about 8,900 rubles, with the typical five-night bill around 48,700 rubles. The Maldives registered the highest nightly rates at roughly 38,700 rubles, followed by Mauritius at 23,500 rubles, the UAE at 16,800 rubles, France at 15,300 rubles, and both China and Italy at 11,300 rubles each. Sri Lanka stood at about 10,600 rubles per night.
Less expensive options included the Philippines at 9,600 rubles per night, Egypt at 8,600 rubles, and Indonesia and Vietnam at 8,200 rubles each. Azerbaijan offered stays around 7,500 rubles, Thailand 7,200 rubles, Georgia 6,900 rubles, and Turkey 6,500 rubles per night.
In contrast, travelers seeking budget-friendly choices tended to head to India, with prices from about 6,100 rubles per night, and to CIS countries such as Kazakhstan at 5,800 rubles and Armenia at 5,200 rubles, with Belarus around 5,050 rubles per night.
When it comes to hotel class abroad, Russian tourists favored four-star properties most often, accounting for about 29% of bookings. Three-star hotels followed at 28%, while non-star accommodations represented 14%. Five-star hotels drew roughly 11% of reservations, with 9% choosing apartments, 5% opting for two-star hotels, and 3% staying in hostels.
In travel within Russia, popular destinations included Moscow and St. Petersburg, along with Esto-Sadk, Irkutsk, Sochi, Kazan, Arkhyz, Murmansk, Krasnaya Polyana, and Kaliningrad. The average overnight cost for a night in Russian accommodations from February 10 to 18 hovered around 5,100 rubles, marking a 19% increase from the previous year (4,300 rubles). The findings derive from the February 2024 study conducted by the same service.
These patterns provide a snapshot of Russian travel preferences during mid-February and offer context for travelers and industry observers tracking seasonal shifts in international and domestic hospitality demand.
Note: Data reflect reservation activity analyzed during February 2024 and illustrate trends that were observed in the run-up to late winter holidays.